The history behind The North Face

The idea for The North Face came about when co-founders Douglas Tompkins and Susie Tompkins-Buell were hiking on North Beach in San Francisco in 1966. Both avid adventurers and explorers, their mission was to create a company which would provide the highest quality outdoor clothing and equipment for people who wanted to get the most out of extreme outdoor activities like themselves.

Named after the coldest, most unforgiving side of a mountain, The North Face has rapidly expanded since its creation. It is now one of the largest providers for outdoor clothing and equipment worldwide and sponsors numerous expeditions each year for a whole range of extreme adventures. These include climbing Mount Everest, scaling Cape Pillar, a sheer cliff-face in Tasmania and numerous snow and water sports events.

By the end of the 1990s The North Face had broadened its reach into all sorts of outdoor activities, supplying not only clothing, but also a large range of equipment. This includes footwear, jackets, t-shirts, trousers, tents, sleeping bags, hiking equipment and various sporting equipment.

In was around this time, in the early 2000s, when The North Face also became a commercial outdoor brand in the fashion industry. Meaning it was no longer just a brand for professional extreme athletes. Many of the items available from The North Face meet everyday fashion requirements, and are becoming more and more popular amongst regular athletes and people alike.

It is now owned by VF Corporation and continues to battle the extremes both as a brand and as a sponsor. Founder Doug Tompkins unfortunately died in a kayaking accident in 2015 and following this the brand has expanded to providing more environmentalist aid – something that Doug himself was passionate about.

As a brand numerous high profile athletes have been involved working with The North Face. Rock climbers Emily Harrington and James Pearson, explorer Renan Ozturk, endurance runner Mike Wolfe and skier Giulia Monego are just a handful of the athletes that The North Face works with. They are provided with sponsorship for competitions and The North Face also supplies them with the necessary equipment to thrive in their endeavors, ensuring that they are as successful as possible.

The latest The North Face clothing is now available online at Mainline Menswear and includes hoodies, gilets, t-shirts, jackets and bags. Make sure to check out the sale items fast before they go out of stock!